The Ides of March

Julius Caesar was assassinated on the 15th March, 44 BC (also known as the Ides of March). This was the 74th day in the Roman calendar, and, what is interesting about the date, is that it was the deadline for settling debts!

Instead of numbering each day of the month, the Romans counted from three fixed points, the Nones, Ides and Kalends. As with most calendars, the Roman calendar follows the lunar cycle, with the Ides being determined by the full moon, and the Ides of March occurring on the first full moon of the new year.